by Gia Tsiknas
Her sudden change in only the briefest moment of time made Machi hesitate, but Hanaq pressed her forward, ripping the last bit of control from her fingers.
“If you can’t beat me, you have no chance of defeating the enemies before you.” Saiya’s voice was ice, her fists alight with magic.
She struck. So fast Machi had a hard time keeping track of her movements. Saiya punched twice and spun in a kick, catching Machi in the shoulder. She cried out and slashed with crimson claws that grew from her hands.
Claws met air and Saiya slammed another kick into Machi’s temple.
Machi fell, shaking her head and trying to regain her feet.
Hanaq roared in frustration. Call my name, huntress. Call and I shall grant you victory.
Machi struggled to her feet and snarled, her mind befuddled. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to lose.
Saiya conjured, streaming words so fast under her breath that Machi’s ears rang. Three doppelgangers sprang up, surrounding Machi and hiding Saiya’s true attacks.
You know this is not the way. Whispered a voice.
Machi’s rage returned, driven by the beast’s influence.
Hanaq!
The beast of wrath swiped at the nearest image, passing through air. Saiya conjured a blade of lightning and stabbed. The blade bypassed its intended target as Hanaq’s familiarity with her body grew. Saiya spun and slashed again, catching a leg. Machi retaliated, her pain drowned by Hanaq. Sparks showered as she scraped Saiya’s shoulder guards. No longer were Machi’s limbs human. Her figure settled on the image of a jungle cat.
No! She screamed. This is not what I want.
Hanaq laughed. You are mine.
Machi’s will shattered and a torrent of rage flooded her senses. Her spirit curled up like a frightened child.
No…
Images flickered through Machi’s mind in quick succession. None of them made sense. Her parents in a pool of blood at her own feet. Brizna dying as she choked him. The images circled in her head, drawing her into a trance.
Call me.
Machi tried to focus, but the images converged on her, melting together.
Call me.
With those words a barrage of new images shredded the older ones: Brizna comforting her as she cried, Lua’s naïve trust, Brizna’s ring.
I can’t. You betrayed me. You took away everything important to me. You abandoned me when I needed you the most.
I have never left you, My daughter, the voice soothed. You just stopped looking.
Machi cried, and the images faded. A small voice echoed in her mind, pleading with her.
Don’t lose, Mach. Brizna cried out. She saw him, tossing in his sleep, so dirty he was barely recognizable. Come back, don’t leave me. Don’t lose.
Tears ran down her face as she heard Brizna’s call. His strength was faded and ragged as he used everything he had to call to her.
Raboni?
Yes, daughter?
Help me.
A burst of brilliant, white light burned away Machi’s tears. Raboni’s raw power coursed through her very being, immobilizing Hanaq.
No! Shrieked the savage beast. She called me. She is mine!
Be gone, demon! Raboni commanded. His ultimate authority put weight behind his words. No longer will you torment My child.
Hanaq shrieked in pain and retreated, leaving Machi slumped on the ground. Saiya watched, gasping for air, as Machi slipped into unconsciousness, no longer controlled by the fearsome beast.
Sleep well. Raboni whispered as Machi let the grip on her hate and anger fade away.
CHAPTER TWELVE
ESCAPE
They searched as many rooms as they could find, but it was slow going. Not only did they have to dodge the normal bustle of servants and soldiers roaming the halls, but they needed to avoid groups of guests for a ball. The people were dressed in flashy dresses and suits, their faces alight in anticipation as they streamed to the Great Hall. Etsuko was determined, and it took Brizna and Whistler both to keep her from waylaying someone for answers.
“I don’t see them.” Etsuko hissed. She sat peering through a crack in the doorway. They had been watching the stream of party guests enter the hall for a while now, hidden in an unused room. The room was empty save a few covered pieces of furniture. A layer of dust around the room spoke of routine neglect. Brizna shook his head. Why would anyone have a furnished room only to leave it rot?
“Then lets git outta ’ere.” Whined Whistler. “I dun’ wanna be aroun’ when a couple needs a quiet place to—”
He saw Brizna’s glare, then looked to Etsuko and swallowed his words.
“We leave when we find them.” Etsuko’s tone was hard. “I refuse to leave my brother and sister here with that witch.”
“Wait.” Brizna hissed, leaning in to peer through the crack. “Isn’t that the Gray Demon? What is he doing here?”
They saw a man stalk through the hall to the entrance. He pushed aside the castle sentry, seized hold of the doors, and stumbled into the room. Brizna swallowed. Why was he here? Had he found Machi? Was she safe?
He had to know.
Brizna stood away from the doorway. He strode to the furniture and started uncovering them. Silks and damask and gaudy colors filled his vision. He smiled.
“How about we crash a party?”
***
Aidrian stumbled across the flagstone, cursing like a sailor. Ulokhu stalked behind him, growling.
Brilliant reds and purples of twilight filtered through the glass roof. A handful of candles lit the room. A single, ornate throne sat empty on the far wall, below an enormous heraldry flag, decorated by a large silver serpent with a diamond as its eye. Myriads of glittering people danced and made merry as the ball continued. Tables of delicacies and drinks lined the walls, and the room rippled with the light chatter of the elite.
“Zafirah!” Aidrian shouted. “Zafirah, you slimy witch, get out here right now.”
The babble of voices stopped as everyone in the hall turned to stare. The sentries scrambled to grab Aidrian and drag him from the room, but their hands passed through his clothes as if he were a shadow himself.
Brizna and Etsuko slid into the room during the distraction. Brizna wore blue and crimson paisley from a couch magicked into an overcoat and trousers. Etsuko tugged on a low neck crimson gown that brushed the floor, their bodies covered in a seeming to look clean.
Whistler had refused to come, and Brizna wished him luck. Perhaps he could escape the palace before the party ended. He seemed to know the layout well enough. Brizna and Etsuko kept to the walls, trying not to stand out among their company.
A serpentine hiss filled the darkness. Its origin was unknown.
Etsuko paled.
Black shadows detached themselves from the background and circled Aidrian. The courtiers screamed and a few of the women fainted.
The shadows struck, restraining and gagging Aidrian and Ulokhu. A lump of shadow bulged out of the mess, shaping itself into the upper half of a girl. She had unnatural green skin, patched with scales. Her hair was long and wavy, its color a sinister black and purple. The woman’s gold eyes shone, snake-like and bloodthirsty.
A sob spilled from Etsuko’s throat as she stared at the monstrosity. Brizna glanced to her then toward the snake-woman, at her familiar jaw line, her eye shape, her slight build. Brizna’s stomach dropped.
Was that Etsuko’s sister?
“Perhaps our guests would like to view the inner gardens.” Zafirah’s light voice cracked over the panicking crowd. One of the side entrances glided open, and the people fled. She stepped from behind her throne and frowned. “Remain calm.”
Her voice sizzled with power and the courtiers fell silent, their expression dazed, as if they slept on their feet. They marched by twos through the door. Aidrian watched in horror as the men and women made no sound. Brizna grabbed Etsuko’s arm.
“We need to follow them.” He whispered.
“How dare you call on the master!” The unrecognizable mass solidified into the body of a snake. A gravelly voice hissed from its mouth. Aidrian broke free from his gag long enough to let slip a few choice words. Hissing the woman squeezed Aidrian and Ulokhu.
“Aalas.” Zafirah softly called.
The snake turned toward her.
“Release him.” Her voice held an edge to it, the only clue to her true emotion.
“Yes.” Aalas’s voice rasped as she let go of Aidrian and Ulokhu, allowing them to fall onto the floor. The snake’s coils melted into black and violet then finished assembling into a girl. She still held her scaled, green skin and golden eyes.
Aidrian levied himself off of the floor, still gasping for air. “New pet project, Zafirah? I thought you preferred other sorts of entertainment.”
“I realize that pulling you away from a predetermined mission is difficult for you. However, I’d prefer more cooperation from my subordinates.”
Aidrian gulped, but reconnected with his bluster and plowed onward.
“I will not stop my obsessions at your will.”
Zafirah turned her back on Aidrian and she strode to her throne. Aalas followed. When Zafirah settled Aalas melted into a large snake and wrapped herself around the throne and her mistress. Zafirah pet her head.
“And yet you are here. By my will.”
Aidrian swallowed hard. Sweat trickled along his forehead as he looked into her ice-cold eyes. He refused to cede. Zafirah’s stone pendant flashed brilliant gold, the color of her hair, then bright blue. It stopped on a drab gray.
Ulokhu’s hackles rose. Aidrian could not move. He couldn’t take his eyes off of the gray necklace.
Zafirah stood, signaling Aalas to stay put. The serpent didn’t move, but kept a close eye on Aidrian and Ulokhu. Zafirah descended the steps of the dais, twirling her necklace. When she stopped in front of Aidrian, she looked up into his face. She may have been a head shorter than Aidrian, but she held a poise that dared anyone to challenge her.
“Let me tell you a story.” Zafirah twirled her pendant again. The necklace flashed in the candle light. “There was a young girl. She enjoyed collecting things and needed power to finish her collection. So she made a deal with a very secret someone who gave her a very special stone.
“She collected her ‘power’. Then she found a drunkard looking for work. She had him swear fealty and employed him. He died soon after, and the woman took the drunkard’s son into her service.” Zafirah’s eyes burned through Aidrian, he cringed. Aidrian’s ears echoed with screams. The sound came from the pendant.
“How shall I finish this story Aidrian?” Zafirah’s voice was light but Aidrian knew better than to answer.
Ulokhu growled, first at Zafirah, then at the frozen Aidrian. Zafirah unclipped her pendant, dangling it in front of the man. The gray substance swirled like a whirlpool, reaching for the man. Aidrian leaned forward.
“What an ugly color.” Zafirah commented. “Maybe if I added a bit of something, it would brighten up.”
She lifted her hand, letting her voice trail. Her nail pricked the stone. An angry red scratch broke through the gray, spreading around the pendant like pulsing veins.
Aidrian screamed, collapsing on the floor and clutching his chest. Ulokhu roared in protest, striking out at Zafirah. Aalas was there in an instant, her tight coils squeezing Ulokhu into submission. Zafirah grinned and removed her finger, letting the red slowly fade. Aidrian lay gasping and twitching on the cool stone floor.
“Do not forget,” Zafirah’s voice was ice, “who is the servant, and who is the master.”
Between shuddering gasps Aidrian pleaded and sobbed. “Please, please, no more. I submit, you are my master. Please, I will stop. Please, no more.”
“Get up.” She sneered. “I have another task for you.”
Aidrian struggled to his feet and Aalas released Ulokhu.
“Thank you! Thank you! I will do anything! Anything!” The broken man whimpered as she lifted her hand. However, Zafirah simply clasped the pendant back around her neck.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
FREEDOM
“Now stop that!” scolded Saiya.
Machi rolled to her side. Pain shot through her arm and shoulder.
“Leave her be!” Saiya said again.
An animal the size of a full-grown cat leapt onto her chest and pushed something cold and slimy into her face.
Machi flinched and tried to pick whatever it was off. When she moved her injured shoulder bumped something. Machi yelped.
“Oh, sorry about that.” Saiya said, “You shouldn’t move yet.”
The thing on her stomach shifted and hissed.
“You be quiet!” Saiya snapped, “This is good for her so eat your meal elsewhere. And get that fish off her, she’s not ready to eat just yet.”
The slimy object, now identified as a fish, was removed with a grumble by the cat-sized animal. When the animal moved, Machi tried to sit. She heard a shrill cry and saw something orange zip around the campsite. When she was sitting up the orange blur landed on Machi’s lap, jarring her arm. She winced.
“What in the—“ Machi stared at the odd creature. He was an oversized lizard with wings. His orange scales flashed brilliant gold as Machi studied him. The little dragon leapt off of Machi’s lap yet again, cawing.
“Moody! Calm down. She just woke up!” Saiya threw her hands into the air.
“What happened?” Machi rubbed her eyes.
“I need to tell you that? I hope not. What I will tell you is that you’re very injured, and you better not move around too much and reopen your wounds.”
“How long have I been out?” Machi stared at her bandage-covered body as her memory returned.
“Oh… not long.” Saiya didn’t look Machi in the eye.
“How long?” Machi narrowed her eyes in a glare.
“A week.”
“A week?”
“Yes, but under normal circumstances you should still be unconscious.”
Machi shook her head and took inventory of her body. Bandages covered every visible inch of her body so she couldn’t see her injuries well, but if pain was any indicator, she guessed that most were shallow. Her shoulder was the worst, but even that wasn’t too troublesome if she was careful moving it. She blinked. Something felt weird. Not wrong, just weird, lighter.
That’s freedom for you.
Machi jumped.
“Wha—“ She ripped a piece of cloth Saiya was using to bandage her.
“If you’re going to move around so much, I’ll conk you out for another week so you can heal, without causing me grief.” Irritation made Saiya scowl.
“Sorry, I was just taken by surprise…”
“By what?” Saiya smiled and returned to her work.
Machi hesitated. Saiya sensed her mood and sighed.
“You don’t have to explain, if you don’t want.”
“No, it’s just… hard to put into words.”
“Try me.” Saiya glanced at Machi’s face and looked away. “I can be a good listener. Brizna found the same in me.”
Machi flinched, but she didn’t lash out. Saiya looked up and saw the girl looking at her lap, shame-faced. Saiya smiled. “Let me have your arm, I want another look at your shoulder.”
Machi allowed Saiya to move her arm to a relaxed position and remove the bandage from her shoulder. Saiya worked briskly. When the soiled bandage fell to the ground, a few words from the woman sent it flying to the river with a bar of lye soap. Saiya scrutinized the gash, pulled a cooling poultice from a jar and slathered it on the wound. Machi grit her teeth at the pain. Before she knew it, the cleaned dressing flew from the river, spinning so fast in the air that droplets of water flew from it. The dry cloth land
ed in Saiya’s outstretched palm the moment she finished with the poultice, and she redressed the gash.
Machi watched in wonder.
Once she finished, Saiya stood and walked to the stream to wash her hands. Machi felt a dawning respect as the woman tended to her. Saiya returned to the camp and regarded Machi with a smile. What had she tried to fight?
“I suppose I should thank you.” The words were thick in Machi’s mouth.
“Perhaps.”
They stared into each other’s eyes. Neither willing to break the silence first. The clearing was littered with healing tools. Jars of poultice and salves sat next to Machi’s pallet. The fire held a pot of boiling water. Saiya’s eyes held a depth that both fascinated and terrified her. She looked to be only three decades old. What did you have to see to get eyes like that?
As time stretched, Machi fidgeted and turned away.
“So, you can be patient.”
“Yeah?” Machi challenged, “What of it.”
“Just an observation.”
Machi glared. “You mentioned teaching.”
Saiya laughed, a deep melodic sound. She beckoned with her falconer’s gloves and the tiny dragon, Moody, landed on her outstretched arm. “If you have questions, speak. I can only answer those I hear.”
“Who are you?”
“First things first.” She sat beside Machi with a loud thump. Machi noticed that Saiya had changed from her last outfit. She now wore a frilly, yellow sun-dress with delicate red and blue trimming.
“Answer my question.” Machi’s temper flared. She paused—something wasn’t right. Then she realized Hanaq was missing from her mind. Her anger was skin deep, no longer a tidal wave threatening to drown her. With a shake of her head, she continued. “You said to ask questions, so don’t dodge.”
“I did.” Saiya grinned. “But I never promised to answer them right away.”
Machi glared and tested her body, despite the pain, to see if she could move if a fight broke out. Saiya sighed, her joke falling on deaf ears.
“My name is Saiya Amber. I come from a country far to the south and was led here for one purpose and one purpose only. That’s my story, so how about yours?”